ENG-1983 — Page 255

14

The Armed Services and Auxiliary Services

歌和三

「輔軍

隊助

THE Armed Services operate in Hong Kong under the overall command of the Commander British Forces, who advises the Governor on matters affecting the security of Hong Kong and who is also responsible to the Chief of Defence Staff in London. The Armed Services are stationed in the territory primarily to assist the government in maintaining security and stability and to sustain confidence in the United Kingdom's stated commitment to Hong Kong.

The Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force are all represented. During the year, the permanent garrison comprised five Royal Navy patrol craft, a naval tug, a Royal Marines raiding squadron, one United Kingdom and four Gurkha infantry battalions, a Gurkha engineer regiment, a Gurkha signals regiment, a Gurkha transport regiment, one Army Air Corps helicopter squadron equipped with 10 Scout helicopters and one Royal Air Force squadron with eight Wessex helicopters.

The size and composition of the garrison, and Hong Kong's contribution towards its cost, are determined by a Defence Costs Agreement between the Hong Kong and United Kingdom governments. The increase in local population, together with its redistribution within Hong Kong, were such that the resident garrison was considered too small to ensure security and stability in the 1980s. A new agreement was therefore negotiated - replacing a 1976 agreement - to run for seven years from April 1, 1981, and to allow for the present-sized garrison. Additionally, reinforcements will be available when appropriate and necessary.

With the ending of the 'touch-base' policy in October 1980, and the introduction of a requirement to carry identity cards, the flow of illegal immigrants has been reduced, although it continues to be necessary for all three services to concentrate a significant part of their effort on the task of preventing illegal immigration by land and sea.

Hong Kong also has a number of voluntary organisations making up a strong force of auxiliary services to assist the government and the Armed Services.

Throughout the year, there has been increasing emphasis on training for internal security operations and combined exercises involving the Royal Air Force, the Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Hong Kong Police Force and the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) have helped to improve the proficiency of such operations.

Royal Navy

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The Royal Navy, based at HMS Tamar, has continued to maintain patrols of Hong Kong waters. Its force of five patrol craft and the Third Raiding Squadron Royal Marines also acted in close support of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force in deterring and apprehend- ing illegal immigrants from China, intercepting refugees from Vietnam and conducting operations against smugglers and others who illegally infringe the territorial waters.

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